LGALS9 and cancer: TIM-3 is an independent indicator of poor prognosis in GC patients and may play an essential role in the progression, invasion, and metastasis of GC.383,422 TIM-3 expression is induced on NK cells and tumor-infiltrating T cells during the development of GC, making it a potential indicator for evaluating the tumor progression.375,423 Elevated expression of the TIM-3 ligand galectin-9 on cancer cells has been associated with blood vessel invasion and TNM stage in GC.374 However, the prognostic value of galectin-9 remains controversial.